Congo Sanctions Enforcement: UK Imposes New Restrictions on Individuals
The United Kingdom has taken a significant step to promote stability and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo by updating its sanctions list to include new individuals subject to financial restrictions.
New Designations Under the UK’s Democratic Republic of Congo Sanctions Regulations
On May 17, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced that several names have been added to the list of individuals whose assets are frozen under the UK’s Democratic Republic of Congo Sanctions Regulations. These designations were made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, which allows for the imposition of financial sanctions against individuals involved in:
- Serious human rights violations
- Obstructing democracy
- Using improvised explosive devices
These new additions bring the total number of sanctioned individuals to [insert number].
Consequences of Designations
Under the regulations, all persons and institutions in Jersey are required to:
- Freeze any assets or funds held by the designated individuals without delay
- Refrain from dealing with these assets unless licensed by the Minister for External Relations
Enforcement and Compliance
The UK’s sanctions list is linked to the Sanctions and Asset-Freezing (Implementation of External Sanctions) (Jersey) Order 2021, which enables immediate effect of any changes made under the UK Regulations. This means that any new designations are enforceable from the moment they are announced.
Failure to comply with the sanctions legislation or attempt to circumvent its provisions is a criminal offense, punishable by law.
Reporting Frozen Assets
The FCDO has urged anyone with information about frozen assets to report it to the Financial Sanctions Implementation Unit at [email address]. Additional guidance on unfreezing assets for delisted persons or entities can be found on the Government of Jersey and Jersey Financial Services Commission websites.